Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Chris Holt Leeds United looked much more of an attacking threat against Southampton when Dan James came on but did the substitutions happen too late Daniel Farke’s in-game management has been something of a talking point among Leeds United fans this season and it came to light again as the Whites lost out in the Play Off Final to Southampton at Wembley. Adam Armstrong’s goal sealed the win for the Saints, who had shown a different side to their game throughout the match, in giving up possession and nullifying the Leeds threat. Leeds looked toothless from attacking sense for large parts of the game but were lifted slightly by the emergence off the bench of Dan James who came closest to scoring when his strike rattled off the crossbar late in the game. Aside from the arrival of James, who came on in place of Willy Gnonto shortly after the hour mark, Farke had left it fairly late to make changes and it led to questions over whether the United coach had left it too long. Conno...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United boss Daniel Farke felt composure in key moments was the difference as Southampton beat his men 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Farke’s men started well enough but then gifted Saints dangerman Adam Armstrong the freedom of Wembley in the 24th minute and he made no mistake, scoring his 24th of the season. From that moment on it was difficult for Leeds, against a side content to let the Whites have possession in safe areas of the pitch. And despite bossing possession, Leeds didn’t look like scoring until late on when substitute Daniel James rattled the crossbar. Farke, who was in no mood to criticise his players, said Southampton’s clinical first half moment was all that mattered at full-time. “As you can imagine, couldn't be worse, we're suffering a lot in this moment and deeply disappointed,” he said. “Once you come so close, after 90 points, really good play-offs [semi-final] against Norwich and today I can't really say ...

The big question for Leeds is whether they stick with Daniel Farke and rebuild for another promotion tilt under him or will they go for someone else - and they are big fans of Graham Potter By David Anderson As gutting as it is for Leeds’ play-off hoodoo to continue, this will not be the sliding doors moment it was when they last lost the Championship final in 2006. Then it took them 14 years to return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa. This time it will not be so long and Leeds’ owners, the 49s Enterprises, have ambition to match their cash. They wanted it to happen this season to allow them to start spending and they have plans to redevelop Elland Road. The big question is will they stick with Daniel Farke? Will they rebuild for another promotion tilt under him or will they go for someone else as they are big fans of Graham Potter. They will find it hard to hang on to the Championship Player of the Year, Crysencio Summerville, who was subbed, while loan stars Joe R...

Leeds 0-1 Southampton: Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal sent the Saints back into the Premier League at the first time of asking and condemned Leeds to more play-off woe Richard Jolly After the expensive relegation, the lucrative promotion. Southampton contrived to finish bottom of the Premier League in a year when they spent some £160m, had three managers and only mustered six wins. They return to the world’s richest league courtesy of the world’s richest game, their prize for play-off victory probably beginning at £140m and, if they stay up, worth rather more. If Bobby Stokes, the hero of the 1976 FA Cup final, still has the most famous Wembley winner in Southampton’s history, Adam Armstrong has the most lucrative. For Leeds, consigned to another season in the Championship, it ranks as the most costly. A sixth unsuccessful play-off campaign means they are still without a win at Wembley since 1992. On the 35th anniversary of Don Revie’s death, the Damned United remain incapable ...

By Stuart Rayner Once upon a time the Championship play-off final was a thrill-a-minute basketball game between two sides desperate to play top-division football but in the last decade it has increasingly become a game of fine margins between teams desperate not to miss out on it. Southampton will reflect that their return ticket to the Premier League came courtesy of a moment of Premier League ruthlessness but it was donated by a moment of Leeds United sloppiness in a 1-0 game decided in the 24th minute. When this Damned United, when it comes to play-off football, needed a bit of good fortune, Lady Luck refused to help those who had not helped themselves. Dan James' late shot crashed against the crossbar. A 1-0 defeat ensured that for the first time since 2016, the world's most glamorous domestic football league will bypass Yorkshire. For all the points won in the regular season, this young Leeds side had shown themselves not quite ready yet. When you are playing aga...

By Lee Sobot Leeds took on Southampton in the Championship play-off final for a place in the Premier League. Leeds United will play Championship football again next season after Sunday's play-off final against Southampton ended in a 1-0 defeat at Wembley. The Whites began well but without overly troubling Saints keeper Alex McCarthy whose side went ahead in the 24th minute through clinical striker Adam Armstrong who had been played in by Will Smallbone. Leeds had plenty of possession after the break but Daniel Farke's Whites were unable to find a way back and face another season in the Championship next term after a third defeat of the campaign to Southampton. Leeds and in particular 18-year-old Archie Gray made a bright start, Gray storming forward from right back before firing just wide in the third minute. A few minutes later, Willy Gnonto worked his way to the edge of the box but his low shot while off balance was easily saved by Saints stopper Alex McCarthy. ...

Last English manager to win the top flight on how times have changed with his former club one win away from Premier League return Jim White Howard Wilkinson was the last man to lead Leeds to top-flight glory, a division they are hoping to get back into on Sunday Howard Wilkinson remains the very definition of the Yorkshireman. When he is asked how he is enjoying a much deserved break in Majorca after ending his long-standing tenure as chairman of the League Managers Association, he does not miss a beat. “Fair to middling,” he says of his stay. And the thing is, he means it. Just as he was as a manager, Wilkinson is not a man who has ever knowingly embraced the bright side of life. But, perennially downbeat or not, what a record he has. Not least in his rare distinction as the last English manager to win the title in England’s top division. Though when he steered Leeds United to becoming the last champions before the advent of the Premier League in 1992, he never for a momen...